Aquatic plant, + collecting in Lake Gatun

[duanes]

Lake Gatun was formed when the Chagres River was dammed to form the Panama Canal back in the early 1900s.
Some friends and I took a boat tour ride on the lake today, and I used the trip to gather a few water plants for my newly set up 180. It is a vast lake, used daily by ships to pass thru the middle of Panama from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and vice versa.

Didn't quite know what I'd find other than water Hyacinth, but since my tank is on the patio, thought some floaters would be apropos in partial sunlight, we shall see.

Here's some of what I picked up, beside the Hyacinth.


And as an aside, there were a ton of live bearers in the shallows, I'm guessing they are Gambusia type Mosquito fish. I probably netted out 25, and around a dozen survived the rest of the boat ride, car trip to the dock, and ferry ride back to my place on Isla Taboga, another couple hours in the tropical sun.

Most people take the trip to see other wildlife.

Howler monkeys above, Capuchin mean mugging me below

and salt water crocs

 

[cockroach]

Looks like a fun trip. I would love to see that side of the world.
Any pics of your tank for those of us who have not seen it yet?

Monkeys.....YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Livebearers...........HELL YEAH!!!!!
Salt water flat dogs.......... F*** NO!!!!

 

[Lilyann]

So cool! I really enjoyed seeing this. The one floating plant looks like salvina minima

 

[TheFishDodo]

Cant wait to see what cichlid you end up putting in there.

 

[duanes]

Looks like a fun trip. I would love to see that side of the world.
Any pics of your tank for those of us who have not seen it yet

After 3 years fishes, a new (used) 180.
Above is a link to the start, of the tank, title should read
After 3 years fish less......
below a couple more shots of the Gatun habitat.




Its interesting that because surges of millions of gallons of sea water enter the lake when the locks open and close a brackish salinity, and high pH of above 9 is normal.
And beside the salt water crocs sharks and tarpon have become permanent residents, luckily none took my hand off as I groped for plants .

 

[Kittiee Katt]

You are so lucky and blessed to be living the way you are! You must of worked extremely hard to get where you are. I'm so jealous but also really glad that you shared it with us, thank you!

 

[duanes]

Discovered this morning that about 25 of the Gambusia(?) survived the collection trip.

 

[cockroach]

Nice.
So I am guessing this lake does not lend itself to much recreational activity besides perhaps fishing. No swimming on hot days? Tubing? Lol

 

[duanes]

Definitely no swimming or snorkeling, many a pet dogs has been lost along its shore, and they move pretty quickly for short distances on land.
Beside the crocs, and sharks, the large cargo ship keeps the water very stirred up, and brown.
Hope to go to lake Bayano next, supposedly no crocs, and the no invasive Cichla, so the population of endemic cichlids may as yet be in tact.
For those who want to swim, there is Gamboa Rain Forest Resort, on its shore, with a fantastic overlooking view of the lake.


We hit the resort bar/restaurant after the boat trip, for burgers and beers.

 

[duanes]

Gatun Lake is about a half hour taxi cab ride out from Panama City.

The 2 hour boat trip for 5 people ran about $20 per (they use the American dollar as currency, so no confusing currency exchange needed), lunch at Gamboa resort of local Panamanian beer, a healthy sized bacon, mushroom cheese burger with angus beef and fries, ran less the $20.
Panama City has everything from the Hard Rock Cafe to Wendy's, to any kind of ethnic restaurant you can imagine.
Below a Colombian eatery near my normal ferry departure point.

Our Gatun lake tour boat was similar to the one below.